Gerbera plant named `Diva`

ABSTRACT

An original variety of Gerbera plant distinguished by its orange outer petals and inner petals, its ability to grow vigorously and flower profusely during the spring, midseason, and fall blooming periods as well as blooming in the winter in the greenhouse.

BACKGROUND OF THE PLANT

This Gerbera variety, named `Diva`, originated as a seedling atRijsenhout, and resulted from the crossing in March of 1981 of 80-305 asthe seed parent and the pollen parent identified as 80-310, taken frommy collection of Gerbera maintained for breeding purposes at Rysenhout,the Netherlands. My objective in making the crossing being to developnew Gerbera varieties having blooms of good quality and excellent coloron strong plants having good winter production in my greenhouses. Thisplant was selected from the seedlings resulting from the above crossingbecause of its large flower size, its long stem and its vigorous andstrong growth habit. The characteristics embracing the above objectivesalong with other desirable improvements as set forth below distinguishthis new plant from its parents as well as from all other varieties ofwhich I am aware.

The varieties thought to be most similar are `Marleen`, `Vesta` and`Clementine`. `Diva` is distinguished from `Marleen` by a differentcolor and bigger leaves. `Diva` is distinguished from `Vesta` by itsdifferent color, longer flower stem and bigger florets. `Diva` isdistinguished from `Clementine` by its double variety and biggerflorets.

Asexual propagation of this selected plant was carried on under mydirection at Rysenhout by cuttings and further by means of tissueculture at Naaldwijk, the Netherlands, through several successivegenerations which clearly demonstrated that the novel characteristics ofits blooming and growth habits appear to be firmly fixed and wouldremain true from generation to generation.

The following is a detailed description of my new Gerbera plant basedupon observations of greenhouse plants grown at Naaldwijk, Netherlands,the color designations being according to the R.H.S. Colour Chartpublished by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

This new variety of Gerbera jamesonii named Diva is illustrated by theaccompanying photographic drawing (FIG. 1) which shows its bloom in fullcolor, with such colors of the photograph being as true to those of theplant as can be reasonably obtained from conventional professionalphotographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Leaf length: Medium.

Leaf width: Medium.

Leaf blade thickness: Medium.

Leaf blade blistering: Weak.

Leaf blade pubescence on upper side mid-rib excluded: Sparse.

Leaf blade depth of incisions on basal part: Deep.

Leaf blade depth of incisions on the central third: Shallow.

Leaf blade depth of incisions on distal part: Shallow.

Leaf blade color of upper side: Medium Green R.H.S. 139 A.

Leaf blade glossiness of upper side: Medium to strong.

Leaf blade angle of apex: Obtuse.

Leaf blade shape of apex: Pointed (fairly).

Leaf blade margin of lobes: Sinuate.

Leaf blade extensions of margin: Medium.

Petiole length: Medium.

Petiole anthocyanin coloration: Present.

Petiole intensity of anthocyanin coloration: Medium.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FLOWER

Peduncle length: Medium.

Peduncle cross section: Round.

Peduncle tendency to fasciation: Present.

Peduncle thickness: Thick.

Peduncle strength: Strong.

Peduncle pubescence: Medium.

Peduncle color: Medium Green R.H.S. 146 B.

Peduncle anthocyanin color at base: Present.

Peduncle intensity of anthocyanin coloration at base: Medium.

Peduncle anthocyanin coloration at top: Absent.

Peduncle involucral bracts: Absent.

Flower head type: Double.

Flower head diameter: Medium.

Flower head height from point of attachment of involucre to top offlower head: Low.

Flower head height of involucre: Medium.

Flower head diameter of involucre: Large.

Flower head number of involucral bracts: Medium.

Flower head longitudinal axis of bracts of inner rows of involucre:Reflexing.

Flower head anthocyanin coloration at top of inner involucral bracts:Absent.

Flower head intensity of anthocyanin coloration at top of innerinvolucral bracts: Medium.

Flower head pubescence of involucre: Medium to strong.

Flower head number of ray florets of outer rows: Medium.

Flower head shape of ray florets of out row: Narrow obovate.

Ray floret longitudinal axis of rays of outer row: Reflexing tostraight.

Ray floret longitudinal axis of rays of inner row (normally developedray florets): Straight.

Female floret longitudinal axis of ray (outer ray florets excluded --semi-double or double varieties only): Straight.

Male floret longitudinal axis of ray (semi-double or double varietiesonly): Straight, top slightly reflexing.

Outer ray floret cross section of ray: Flat.

Outer ray floret length: Short.

Outer ray floret width: Medium.

Outer ray floret longitudinal folding: Medium.

Outer ray floret angle of apex: Right angle (virtually).

Outer ray floret shape of apex: Rounded.

Outer ray floret incisions of apex: Present.

Outer ray floret number of incisions: Three, sometimes two.

Outer ray floret depth of incisions: Medium.

Outer ray floret length of free petals: Medium.

Outer ray floret color of inner side:

    ______________________________________                                        Description     Remarks                                                       ______________________________________                                        RHS 22B or 24C  Orange, like RHS 22B or 24C                                   RHS 16C         Toward top, lighter like RHS                                                  16C surface, except top, is                                                   covered with very fine reddish                                                specks                                                        ______________________________________                                    

Outer ray floret distribution of the color on the inner side: Lightertowards the top.

Outer ray floret edge of different color: Absent.

Outer ray floret striation: Absent.

Outer ray floret color of outer side:

    ______________________________________                                        Description      Remarks                                                      ______________________________________                                        RHS 12D or 22D   Yellow orange, distal with                                                    greenish tint                                                ______________________________________                                    

Outer ray floret claw spot: Present.

Disc diameter (single or semi-double varieties only): N/A.

Disc main color of perianth lobes of female flowers: Orange, R.H.S. 22Bor 24C.

Disc main color of perianth lobes of male flowers: Orange, R.H.S. 12D or22D.

DESCRIPTION OF REPRODUCTION ORGANS

Style main color of distal part: Yellow R.H.S. 2 D.

Stigma main color: Yellow R.H.S. 2 D.

Anthers main color: Dark Yellow R.H.S. 12 A.

Anthers color of top relative to other parts: Lighter.

Anthers longitudinal stripes: Present.

Pappus main color: Yellow R.H.S. 14 A.

Pappus color of top relative to other parts: Identical.

Pappus level of top relative to closed disc florets: N/A.

We claim:
 1. The new distinct variety of Gerbera plant herein describedand illustrated and identified by the characteristics enumerated above.